Wapama Falls - California Waterfalls; Yosemite Natl. Park, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir-hike/trail/map/directions

Wapama Falls is the jewel of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and a must see visit in the spring. Try not to neglect going to Hetch Hetchy while on your visit to Yosemite Valley.

It is an easy 2.5 mile hike along the reservoir to Wapama Falls. Just a little past Tueeulala Falls, Wapama Falls is more powerful and impressive. It is a 1300 ft. long cascade, which rages in the spring-time. We got very wet just crossing the bridge over Falls Creek, where Wapama Falls flows over (instead of under) in some places. Then we climbed up on the rocks to have lunch with a great view of both waterfalls. If Wapama Falls is really raging strong in the spring, it will be impossible to cross the bridge (and possibly deadly if you try it), but this will only be the case at the height of snow melt.

I have seen Wapama Falls listed at a height of 1700 ft. But is actually around 1300 ft. tall. The higher figure probably originates from before the O'Shaughnessy Dam was built. At that time, Wapama Falls would have been about 400 ft. higher than it is today.

There is one more waterfall in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir area, 30 ft. Rancheria Falls. It is a long 4 miles past Wapama Falls, with a 1200 ft. elevation gain. We did not make the long trip out to see it when we were here.

18 Miles NNW Yosemite Valley CA (Elev. 5981 ft)

Today
Sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 53. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 72. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 70. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light south in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Tuesday
A chance of rain before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Light south southwest wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday Night
A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 67. East northeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west southwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night
Clear, with a low around 45. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 70. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.